Search

The GospelFlava.com interview with gospel music industry worker Kurt Carr is a very interesting read. Circa 2005, the interview is a promotion of his “One Church” album, but its also a revealing window into the flawed theology motivating industry workers like Carr. Thus, their music becomes a product of their misinterpretation and misapplication of God’s word. First, Carr erroneously claims music is what God will use to bring Christians together.

In my prayer time, while I was seeking God about the new CD, he compelled me to reach those people that he has given their ear to me. That’s where the concept of the album came from. It has a profound message that needs to be conveyed. Jesus prayed to the Father that we would be one, as He and the Father are one. My friend Tommy Tenney said that it’s an unanswered prayer that Jesus prayed. It’s true because there is still so much division in the body of Christ. We have to do something about it, and I believe that music is the key that is going to draw us all together.” [source]

People like Carr seem to see unity and as an end unto itself. That’s one of the key tenets of the diaprax heresy. Consequently, I have seen no scriptural basis to support an assertion that music will bring God’s people into true unity. How can that be especially when the main vehicles for releasing such music are infected with sin, compromise and perversity? Look here, here and here for examples. If biblical unity is to be achieved it cannot be based on anything which excludes God’s word as the primary unifier.

But that’s only one of the rather unsettling beliefs Carr reveals in this interview. He complains that African Americans “dont pay enough homage” to our ancestors compared to the Jews. When asked by GF why he felt it so important to show “props” to people who paved the way for him, Carr claimed his “homage” to James Cleveland and Walter Hawkins was to make amends for our lack of ancestor connectedness.

I feel that it’s crucial to do that. To me, that’s what is wrong with our people. We don’t give enough respect and homage to our ancestors. Take the Jews for instance. I grew up in Connecticut, and I went to a private school there. It was mostly —I would say 98% —Jewish. I am real familiar with the Jewish culture, and how their whole lives are about their ancestors, their families, their background. Every week in school, we would hear something about the Holocaust. Unfortunately, our people are not as set on that. We talk about it, but whatever.

So, if the church was more like Jews and learned to respect and honor people like Cleveland despite his evil legacy, then God would unite us? Im not sure about you, but I wasn’t aware that Cleveland, Hawkins and [Albertina] Walker had been elevated to ancestor status in the black community. The problem with Carr’s analogy is that Jews murdered in the Holocaust were innocent victims of a madman. James Cleveland had a sexual demon. We know he infected at least one young man with AIDS and corrupted the lives of countless others. That’s worthy of “respect and honor”?

Then there’s Carr’s bizarre comparison to Michael Jackson in the interview.

One time I went to do a workshop in Japan, and there were about 800 people in the choir. I couldn’t believe it. When I walked out on stage, they were acting like I was Michael Jackson. Girls were fainting. It was crazy. God showed me, “I’m not doing this to edify you. I’m doing this that you can edify me.” A lot of those people sing the music, but they’re not Christians. God used us that night. The anointing fell. People were speaking in tongues, and didn’t realize what they were doing. They don’t even understand what I am saying, but it’s the music —the substance and the heart of the music —that’s going to change them and lead them to conversion.”

Non Christians were speaking in tongues and didn’t know it? Carr says the [Japanese] people had no clue about what he was saying, but that “the music” changed them. That’s not how the scripture says it should happen. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! Romans 10:13-15

I’m not sure what disturbs me more: the blatant false beliefs or the Michael Jackson comparisons.

After Jackson’s pedophilia trial, Carr sent out an email promo saying that God was on Jackson’s side. Further, he claimed “God obviously has a work for Michael Jackson to do.” Of course you know Jackson later fled to Bahrain and converted to Islam one week after being sued by Sheikh Abdulla bin Hamad Al Khalifa for $7 million. Abdulla contends he gave a broke Jackson the money to help him after his trial.

In the articles, Carr drops familiar names that have appeared here on GCM Watch. Look at the connections and see for yourself this is not of God. This idolatrous music uses Jesus’ name, but in practice they deny him. From such, turn away. Carr has a new album out now entitled “Just the beginning”. We’ll be watching to see what he says is his motivation behind this one.

12 Responses to “Kurt Carr Project: false unity and bizarre beliefs”

I wonder about KC most of the time. Something about him makes me turn the station when I hear his music. After reading this, it also makes me wonder what kind of teaching is he receiving from his church…

He was a pastor somewhere. I remember seeing him on TV a few years ago. I think it was on TD Jakes daily program on TBN. He stated that he had just become a pastor. I do not remember if the church was mentioned.

How would he know they were speaking in tongues? Tongues come after conversion, not before. It also usually comes when Biblical teaching is done. That is bizarre to me.

I absolutely tune out when I hear all the unity garbage. Too many references in the Bible suggest otherwise when the true gospel of the kingdom is preached.

I don’t bother with these gospel ‘music ministers’. Too much murky madness going on. Seriously I do not feel like wading through all the nonsense.

“…they [gospel music industry workers] a[re] class of church transients…” You’re correct in saying this. From my last church experience, I saw more people move through the music “ministry” (leaders, singers and instrumentalists) than in any other area in the church. It lends itself to making “the church” into a career for these people, no different than many of the pulpit pimps exposed for practically doing the same thing.

“Musical” conversion is unscriptural and soulish at best. It is the preached gospel that compels men to repent. Any other “way” is a doctrine of demons.
The body of Christ will not be unified by music. satan and his children might be unified by music, but not the body of Christ. Our unity is in Christ. We died and our lives are hidden in Him.

There are those who like to say that the Bible does not condemn homosexuality. Various verses are cited (out of context) and the verses that people use to show that homosexuality is wrong are explained away. The world wants to change God’s words and meanings into something more suitable to its sinful desires. Nevertheless, the truth stands: The Bible condemns homosexuality as a sin. Let’s look at what it says.

Lev. 18:22, “You shall not lie with a male as one lies with a female; it is an abomination.”1

Lev. 20:13, “If there is a man who lies with a male as those who lie with a woman, both of them have committed a detestable act; they shall surely be put to death. Their bloodguiltness is upon them”

Rom. 1:26-28, “For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, 27and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error. 28And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper.”

Homosexuality is clearly condemned by the Bible. It goes against the created order of God. He created Adam and then made a woman. This is what God has ordained and it is what is right. Unlike other sins, homosexuality has a severe judgment administered by God Himself. This judgment is simple: They are given over to their passions. That means that their hearts are allowed to be hardened by their sins (Romans 1:18ff). As a result, they can no longer see the error of what they are doing. Without an awareness of their sinfulness, there will be no repentance and trusting in Jesus. Without Jesus, they will have no forgiveness. Without forgiveness, there is no salvation.

The interview I saw a few years ago referred to him as pastor. I believe it may have been a youth pastor position. When I saw that interview I thought ‘Okay another pastor’. It seems like so many people all of a sudden were becoming pastors. Not sure about the status now.

This judgment is simple: They are given over to their passions. That means that their hearts are allowed to be hardened by their sins (Romans 1:18ff). As a result, they can no longer see the error of what they are doing. Without an awareness of their sinfulness, there will be no repentance and trusting in Jesus. Without Jesus, they will have no forgiveness. Without forgiveness, there is no salvation.

Mark, you will need to clarify whether or not this is a final judgment. Does this apply to people like myself who were at one point 100% immersed in homosexuality? Perhaps you could explain what happens to cause people to turn away from this sin. Or is it possible once one is the the “judgment phase”, can it be changed?